Email to FISK

 Email to FISK

Hey Fisk team!

I’ll start off by introducing myself; my name is Abi Beckram and I’m a second year Graphic Design student at Leeds Arts University based in the UK. I’ve been a massive fan of the stuff you put out at Fisk and really admire your versatility as both a studio and gallery; I love how as a team you integrate playful elements into your projects - it’s a super refreshing stance on the role of graphic design today.

I’m currently in the process of producing a creative report for a module and would love to ask you all some questions to get your take on all things design and your experiences within the industry. I thought I would reach out as I’d really value your thoughts, opinions and any advice you have for a design student such as myself. My aspirations as a creative are definitely oriented around working/ setting up a small studio, so your perspective really means a lot and could make all the difference.

The questions I have written are split into two sections; some are for Bijan and the others are for the rest of the team at Fisk. It would be great if you would take a moment of your spare time to check them out and email over your responses! 

Questions for Bijan

1. What is your design process like? Does a studio environment allow you to bounce ideas off one another and if so, how do you delegate projects to the members within the studio? 
2. You spoke in a talk at PNCA that you approach your practice by thinking about it as 'play'. Can you elaborate on this creative strategy and how you have applied it to the work you and the team at Fisk create? 
3. You started Fisk in your first year at CalArts, which is super impressive. How did you go about creating a visual identity for the studio? Has the brand image of Fisk remained consistent throughout the years, or are you a strong believer in evolution and reimagining the studios' image?
4. What were your decisions behind setting up a studio rather than freelancing? What are the pros and cons of both and if so what have your experiences been like as a freelancer? 
5. I really admire how the portfolio of work at Fisk balances both commercial and more personal work, especially when it comes to branding. I love the identity you created for Marvito based in LA, as it challenges the misconception that branding has to be super commercial/ dull. How find this balance between playfulness and commercial elements within your client briefs?
6. You've spoken about your experiences working at Nike and how you 'thrive' creating your own platforms; this really resonated with me, as I am definitely more interested in working within a small studio myself. Do you have any advice for undergrad designers wanting to set up/ work in a  small studio?
7. When hiring for Fisk, would you say that having a strong defining style is more important than having a diverse portfolio? 
8. How do you gain more connections in such a competitive industry?
9. You spoke in a talk at PNCA about how you're more comfortable taking risks due to your support systems. How does this translate into the dynamic at Fisk studios; were you particular about who you wanted to work with, or selective with the type of creatives you wanted at Fisk? 
10. You've spoken on curiosity and how it is one of the most important practices in your life. There is a lot of pressure on students like myself to land a 'good job' post graduation; I want to know your advice on how to do so in a way that embraces curiosity? 

Questions for everyone

1. What is a day in your life like at Fisk? 
2. Where do you take inspiration from?
3. What is your stance on gatekeeping within the design community? 
4. Do you think that the design industry has become too 'trend' based; are designers becoming reliant on heavily stylised and 'trendy' designs? If so, do you agree with designing based on trends? 
5. Create a 'starter pack' for yourself.
6. What is your favourite typeface?

Look forward to hearing your responses!

Sincerely,